The Unmaking of June Farrow

Adrienne Young

Full starFull starFull starFull starHalf star
4.13(151,010 Ratings)
Left wheat earsGoodreads Choice AwardsRight wheat ears
Left wheat earsApple BooksRight wheat ears
3 Months Free TrialArrow right
Clock82 Min Reading Time
MicrophoneAudio Version Available
cover backgroundThe Unmaking of June Farrow

About this book

In the shadowed mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, a curse clings to the Farrow women like the scent of their blooming flower farm. June Farrow, haunted by her mother Susanna's mysterious disappearance and the whispers of madness, knows her time is coming. Signs appear—faint chimes, a disembodied voice, and a spectral door only she can see.

June is determined to break the curse, even if it means sacrificing love. But after her grandmother's death, a trail of cryptic clues unravels the past, leading June to that impossible door. Stepping through, she tumbles into a journey that bends time, unearths long-buried secrets of Jasper, and entwines her heart in a star-crossed romance. In Adrienne Young's The Unmaking of June Farrow, prepare to be swept away by a mesmerizing tale of mystery, love, and the courage to defy fate itself.

Summary of Key Ideas

  • The Weight of the Farrow Curse

    The story revolves around the Farrow women, who are plagued by a mysterious family curse that causes them to experience visions and become trapped in different time periods. This curse is central to June's identity and drives her actions throughout the novel. The legacy of the Farrow women casts a long shadow, influencing June's present and future. The curse manifests as a form of mental illness, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. The Unmaking of June Farrow suggests that inherited trauma and societal expectations can significantly impact an individual's mental state, leading to a sense of being unmade or undone by their familial history.

  • Unraveling the Mystery of a Mother's Disappearance

    After her grandmother's death, June uncovers cryptic clues about her mother's disappearance decades ago, launching her on a quest to solve the mystery. The search for her mother becomes intertwined with the effort to understand and break the family curse. This search takes June through different time periods, adding layers of complexity to the mystery. The investigation is not just about finding her mother, but also about uncovering the truth about her family's past and the origins of the curse. The mystery surrounding her mother's disappearance serves as a catalyst for June's journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

  • Navigating the Labyrinth of Time

    June's journey involves traversing different time periods, primarily 1950s and the present day. This time travel element adds a unique dimension to the story, allowing June to interact with her ancestors and witness past events. The shifting timelines create a sense of disorientation and challenge June's perception of reality. Time travel is not just a plot device but also a means of exploring the cyclical nature of the family curse and the possibility of altering the past to change the future. Through her experiences in different eras, June gains a deeper understanding of her family's history and the forces that have shaped her destiny.

  • Reclaiming a Shattered Identity

    June grapples with questions of identity as she confronts her family's history and the curse that defines her lineage. She struggles to define herself apart from the expectations and burdens placed upon her as a Farrow woman. The novel explores how family secrets and inherited trauma can shape an individual's sense of self. June's journey is about reclaiming her identity and breaking free from the cycle of madness that has plagued her family for generations. Through self-discovery and acceptance, June begins to forge her own path and define her own destiny, independent of the curse.

  • The Intricate Web of Family Bonds

    The novel delves into the complexities of family relationships, particularly the bond between mothers and daughters. June's relationship with her mother and grandmother plays a central role in the story, influencing her actions and motivations. The Unmaking of June Farrow explores the ways in which family secrets, expectations, and unresolved conflicts can impact relationships across generations. The novel highlights the importance of forgiveness, understanding, and breaking free from harmful patterns to create healthier family dynamics. Ultimately, June's journey is about healing the wounds of the past and forging stronger, more authentic connections with her family.

  • Confronting the Specter of Madness

    June confronts the possibility of madness and mental illness, a recurring theme among the Farrow women. The novel explores the stigma surrounding mental health and the challenges faced by those who struggle with it. The blurring lines between reality and illusion create a sense of unease and uncertainty, reflecting June's internal struggles. The Unmaking of June Farrow challenges societal perceptions of mental illness and encourages empathy and understanding for those who experience it. June's journey is about finding strength and resilience in the face of adversity, and ultimately, reclaiming her sanity and sense of self.

  • Love as a Beacon of Hope

    Amidst the mystery and family drama, June finds love and connection. This romantic element offers a source of hope and provides June with the strength to face her challenges. The Unmaking of June Farrow explores how love can be a powerful force for healing and transformation. This relationship is not merely a romantic subplot but an integral part of June's journey toward self-acceptance and empowerment. Through love, June discovers her own worth and finds the courage to break free from the constraints of her family's past.

  • Breaking the Cycle, Embracing the Future

    Ultimately, the story is about June's determination to break the cycle of the family curse and create a better future for herself and future generations. The Unmaking of June Farrow highlights the importance of agency and the power of choice in shaping one's destiny. June's journey is about challenging the limitations imposed by her family's history and forging her own path. Through her courage and resilience, June inspires readers to confront their own challenges and strive for a brighter future. The ending emphasizes that while we cannot change the past, we can learn from it and create a more fulfilling present.

Chapter Recap

Chapter OneAdrienne Young begins June Farrow's story with the death of her grandmother, Margaret Anne Farrow, marking June as the last of the Farrow women. The quiet sunset burial atop the hill overlooking Jasper, North Carolina, is attended by a small group, including Malachi Rhodes, whose fiddle music fills
Read MoreArrow right

About The Author

Adrienne Young

Main Quotes

"That I'd love him forever. That I would always, always come back to him."

"We were the limbs of a broken tree with poisoned roots."

"She was a prism that colored me and my world with a story."

"I couldn't stop thinking that where we stood was the center of something, a place that created the kind of gravity that made galaxies."

"All that time, she remembered me, she was just waiting for me to remember her. And then I spoke my vows into the summer wind."

"The best thing you can do, for all of us, is go back. As soon as you see that door again, cross. And stay there."

"Maybe that was the point of a story. To give us a place to leave from."

"But a house isn't haunted because of ghosts. It's haunted because of memories."

"Like when the leaves are turned over, you know, it's gonna rain."

"Some things just are, June. Some things you can't change, no matter how hard you fight."

Who Should Read This Book

Readers of romance novels with mystery elements

Fans of magical realism and stories with a touch of the impossible

Readers who enjoy complex narratives and multigenerational sagas

Individuals interested in stories set in small towns with secrets

Readers of adult fiction with themes of family, identity, and destiny

Fans of Adrienne Young's previous works

Book Summaries Like

The Unmaking of June Farrow
cover backgroundThe Haunting of Hill House

The Haunting of Hill House

Shirley Jackson

Enter the chilling world of Hill House, a place where darkness dwells and the line between reality and nightmare blurs. Invited by the enigmatic Dr. Montague to study the paranormal, Eleanor Vance, a fragile and lonely woman with a haunted past, joins a small group of fellow seekers. As they delve deeper into the mansion's secrets, Hill House awakens, preying on their fears and insecurities. But is the house truly haunted, or are its guests succumbing to their own unraveling minds?

Shirley Jackson's masterpiece of psychological horror traps you in an atmosphere of creeping dread and mounting suspense. With its unsettling narrative and masterful exploration of isolation, trauma, and the power of suggestion, The Haunting of Hill House is a chilling descent into madness that will leave you questioning the nature of reality long after you turn the final page. A classic of the genre, this is a must-read for anyone who dares to confront the darkness within and without.

cover backgroundDoctor Sleep

Doctor Sleep

Stephen King, José Óscar Hernández Sendin

Years after the terrifying events at the Overlook Hotel, Dan Torrance is all grown up, but the trauma still haunts him. He's spent decades drifting, desperate to escape the legacy of his father's violence and his own childhood fears. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, finding solace in AA and a job at a hospice, where his residual "shine" helps him provide comfort to the dying, earning him the name "Doctor Sleep."

But Dan's peace is shattered when he encounters Abra Stone, a courageous young girl with an even more powerful shine than his own. Abra has attracted the attention of the True Knot, a terrifying group of quasi-immortal beings who wander America in search of children with the shine, whom they torture and kill to extract their life force, called "steam."

Haunted by the ghosts of the past and facing a terrifying new threat, Dan must confront his demons and embrace his powers to protect Abra from the insatiable hunger of the True Knot. This epic battle between good and evil will take them on a dark and perilous journey, forcing Dan to revisit the horrors of the Overlook and fight for Abra's survival—and his own soul.

cover backgroundBury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

V. E. Schwab

From V.E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, comes a genre-defying epic about immortality, hunger, and the insatiable depths of the human heart.

This is a story about hunger, love, and rage, woven through centuries and connected by blood.

In 1532, María, a young woman in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, dreams of escaping the confines of her fate. Offered an alternate path by an alluring stranger, she makes a desperate choice, vowing to live without regrets.

In 1827 London, Charlotte's idyllic life is shattered by a forbidden intimacy. Exiled to the city, she finds herself swept into a dangerous world by a beautiful widow, where freedom comes at a terrifying price.

In 2019 Boston, Alice seeks a new beginning in college, far from her old life. But a reckless encounter awakens a hunger she can’t explain, plunging her into a quest for answers and a thirst for revenge.

Prepare to be devoured. This is a story about life—how it ends, and how it begins.

cover backgroundLone Women

Lone Women

Victor D. LaValle

In 1915, Adelaide Henry sets off from California with a steamer trunk and a terrifying secret: her family is dead, and she carries the key to unimaginable horror. Determined to start a new life, she seeks refuge in Montana as a homesteader, joining a community of other women living on the fringes of society.

These "lone women," each with their own reasons for seeking solitude, offer Adelaide a chance at belonging. But the monstrous secret she carries threatens to shatter the fragile peace they've found. As a series of strange occurrences plague the isolated homesteads, Adelaide must confront not only the darkness she harbors but also the prejudice and superstition that surround her.

Blending historical fiction, horror, and elements of the Western, Victor LaValle's Lone Women is a thrilling exploration of guilt, redemption, and the power of sisterhood in a world haunted by both human and supernatural evils. It is a haunting tale of a Black woman's fight for survival and a testament to the strength found in the most unlikely of communities.

FAQ